#that involve the respective parts of the act of contrition

[normalbrothers]

peaky blinders (2016 | 2022, tim mielants | anthony byrne)

[ongole]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Sun April 21st, 2024 ... Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B ... KNOW YOUR CATHOLICISM

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CONFESSION

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Confession, brings about a change of heart through God’s mercy and forgiveness. Experience the Lord’s compassion through the Sacrament of Penance, which is made up of the following parts:

• Before Confession

• During Confession

• After Confession

BEFORE CONFESSION

How to Make a Good Confession

Confession is not difficult, but it does require preparation. We should begin with prayer, placing ourselves in the presence of God, our loving Father. We seek healing and forgiveness through repentance and a resolve to sin no more. Then we review our lives since our last confession, searching our thoughts, words and actions for that which did not conform to God’s command to love Him and one another through His laws and the laws of His Church. This is called an examination of conscience.

TO MAKE AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE:

• Begin with a prayer asking for God’s help.

• Review your life with the help of some questions, which are based on the 10 Commandments (see below).

• Tell God how truly sorry you are for your sins.

• Make a firm resolution not to sin again.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Ask God to help you make a good confession. In quiet reflection ask yourself: Since my last confession…

• Did I pray to God, daily and from my heart?

• Did I live and witness to my Catholic faith, joyfully & courageously? Did I take God’s name in vain? Did I curse anyone or make false oaths? Did I engage in superstitious or occult practices?

• Did I attend and participate actively at Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation? Did I fast & abstain on prescribed days?

• Did I respect people in authority? My employer? Did I honor my parents?

• Was I violent or unnecessarily aggressive (e.g., physically, verbally, psychologically, etc.) with anyone?

• Was I prideful, stubborn, or rude with anyone? Did I hold a grudge?

• Did I abuse alcohol, prescription medications, or illegal drugs? Did I overindulge in food?

• Did I consent to, recommend, advise, or actively take part in an abortion? Did I use abortifacient drugs?

• Did I view pornography, entertain lustful thoughts, conversations or actions?

• Was I unloving to my spouse? Did I engage in adulterous activity (e.g., sexual, emotional, virtual, etc.)? Did I use contraceptives?

• Was I neglectful of the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, or physical needs of my spouse, children, or family?

• Did I steal or damage another’s property? Was I honest and just in my business relations? Did I waste time at work?

•  Did I contribute to the needs of the spiritually and materially poor with my time and resources?

•  Did I engage in gossip? Did I lie? Did I speak poorly of others? Did I judge anyone unfairly?

• Did I envy anyone? Was I jealous of others or or covet another’s belongings?

DURING CONFESSION

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) involves four steps:

• Contrition: A sincere sorrow for having offended God, and the most important act of the person confessing. There can be no forgiveness of sin if we do not have sorrow and a firm resolve not to repeat our sin.

• Confession: Naming our sins—aloud—to the priest, who represents Christ and the Church.

• Penance: The prayers—or sometimes, the good deeds—the priest gives, for our healing and the healing of those we have hurt by our sins.

• Absolution: The words the priest speaks by which “God, the Father of mercies” reconciles us to himself through his death and resurrection, called the Prayer of Absolution: “God the father of mercies through the death and resurrection of his Son as reconciled the world to himself and the sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Going to Confession

Reconciliation may be face-to-face or anonymous, with a screen between you and the priest. Choose the option that is the most comfortable for you.

• The priest gives a blessing or greeting.

• Make the Sign of the Cross and say, “Bless me father, for I have sinned. My last confession was…” (give weeks, months, or years).

• Confess all your sins to the priest. (If you are unsure or uneasy, tell him and ask for help.)

• Say, “I am sorry for these and all my sins.”

• The priest gives a penance and offers advice to help you become a better Catholic Christian.

• Say an Act of Contrition, expressing your sorrow for your sins.

• The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then absolves you from your sins.

ACT OF CONTRITION

God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

AFTER CONFESSION

Rejoice! You have received the forgiveness of Christ! What should you do when you leave? Remember the words you recited in the Act of Contrition: “I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.”

Before you leave the confessional, the priest will give you your penance, which may consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy or sacrifices. These works help to join us with Christ, who alone died for us. The goal of our life’s journey is to grow closer to God. We can do this through prayer, spiritual reading, fasting and the reception of the Sacraments.

***

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[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

STRANGE FIRE

Leviticus 10:1-4

We’ve all heard of Nadab and Abihu’s story of the strange or unauthorised fire but what does strange fire even mean?

The Hebrew word translated “strange” means “unauthorized, foreign, or profane.”

Although they were both priests, like their father Aaron, he was the only one the Lord had authorised to conduct sacrifices, so they directly profaned God’s command.

Nadab and Abihu, the eldest of Aaron’s four sons, took censers of their own, put incense in them, and offered unauthorized fire to the Lord.

That is, they conducted the sacrificial offering in their way instead of the way the Lord authorized Aaron and not them.

God not only rejected their sacrifice, but He also found it so offensive that He consumed both men with His righteous and holy fire.

Like King Saul in 1 Samuel 13:8-14, who got tired of waiting for Samuel the priest, the one authorised to offer the sacrifice, he stepped into the priestly office and offered unauthorized fire-strange fire to God which cost him the throne.

We are in a generation now, where all sorts of things shouldn’t happen but they are, even in church. The priesthood has become completely distorted in the body of Christ. We have begun to offer our version of strange fire on the altar of entertainment for worship, oratory talent for preaching and poetry for prayer.

Strange fire! Unauthorised fire!

God has a standard for godly service, but we have set aside people ordained and anointed as priests or ministers of God’s ordinance as super saints/stars who have a special "in" with God.

I Peter 2:9 calls us royal priests, meaning that in one form or another, we stand in that office and must respect and obey the ordinances of the office of a priest in offering to the Lord only what is holy and required with the right attitude and heart.

God knows our hearts. He knows what we truly believe and our attitude toward Him. We cannot offer to Him proud “sacrifices” that are unworthy of Him and expect Him to accept them, didn’t we learnt any lesson from Caine and Abel in Genesis 4?

Psalms 51:16-17 tells us the kind of sacrifice and fire that is acceptable to the Lord, emphasizing the proper attitude when offering sacrifices, a broken and contrite heart, not arrogance, pride, and willful acts.

Verse 2 says a fire went out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them and they were destroyed.

In judging Nadab and Abihu for their strange fire, God was making a point to other priests who would serve in His tabernacle and to us, especially as He had laid down the pattern and order of worship and service, as 1 Peter 1:16 puts it, we must be holy to serve the holy God.

Exodus 19:10 says we must consecrate ourselves before we approach the Lord, but Nadab and Abihu’s sin also involved entering or trying to enter the Most Holy Place after drinking alcohol, thereby desecrating the altar of God.

Believers no longer reverently fear God! We seem to assume that the fear of God is something that belonged to the Old Testament and shouldn’t be part of modern Christian life. The fear of God simply is the reverence and awe of His glorious holiness. We must come to God as prescribed by John 4:24, in spirit and truth not offering strange fire.

PRAYER: Holy God, thank you for being so merciful to me even in my unholiness, help me to reverently fear you and discharge my priestly duties in reverence and fear in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

Women of light international prayer ministries.

[pamphletstoinspire]

Why Would a Loving God Allow Suffering? - Part 4

Written by: Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D.

II.B Second Reason for an Imperfect World – The Opportunity for Natural Virtues  

Weakness and vulnerability (arising out of an imperfect natural order) are the conditions necessary for two of the cardinal virtues – courage and self-discipline. Notice that these virtues define our character precisely because they are chosen in the midst of adversity. They define our ability to “pay a price” for our principles and ideals. This “price” gives existential weight to our principles and ideals, for we cannot hold them cheaply.  

This is particularly evident with respect to courage. The principles of love, truth, and justice are good in themselves, and they are honorable in action, but when we have to choose them in the midst of the possibility of injury, embarrassment, mortification, or death, we not only admire them for their intrinsic goodness, we make them our own. The greater the price we must pay to live the principles and ideals we admire and honor, the more they become part of us, the more they define our being by the “hard choice” we make. If we admire an honorable ideal because it is honorable, it speaks only partially to who we are; but if we choose an honorable ideal not only because we honor it, but because we want to live it even at the cost of injury, embarrassment, or death, then it truly defines us. Ironically, an imperfect natural order (which gives rise to the real possibility of injury or death) not only gives rise to the possibility of courage, but also to that courage lending existential weight (and therefore dignity) to our choice of the honorable ideal.  

Is it worth it? Is it worth injury and death to choose the noble thing in the midst of adversity? Only the reader can answer for him or herself. Would you rather have a very safe world where you can only be a bystander -- or would you rather have an unsafe world where you can enter into the fray and see who you truly are – how you truly embrace the honorable – even at the cost of injury or death? What would you want for your children – a safe world without the possibility of challenge or self-sacrifice -- without the dignity and self-definition of challenge and self-sacrifice -- or an unsafe world, holding out the possibility and actuality of that ultimate dignity?  

For some, the answer to these questions may depend on whether we believe in eternal life – though not necessarily. If one does believe in eternal life, then the answer will very probably be, “I would rather have challenge, the possibility of courage, and the possibility of self-sacrifice for a noble cause – for then I will know who I truly am – and I will be able to define myself -- in the face of adversity throughout all eternity.” This view is shared by some naturalistic and atheistic thinkers, such as Heidegger7 and Sarte8, but of course, they acknowledge only a temporary benefit of knowing and defining our true selves.  

I am presuming that most readers are open to at least the possibility of eternal life with an unconditionally loving God, otherwise you would not have made it this far in the Quartet, and would not be considering why an unconditionally loving God would allow suffering and evil. If I am correct, then you probably will not want to limit the project of self-definition through suffering and sacrifice to this life alone. The suffering you endure for the sake of the noble, love, and the kingdom of God defines your being – not just in this life – but throughout eternity – where suffering, according to Jesus, is replaced completely by the joy of unconditional love. We do not need to suffer for an eternity – the suffering we endure in this short life leaves an indelible mark of who we are forever.  

Now use the lens of eternal love to ask yourself the above questions once again -- would you rather have a very safe world where you can only be a bystander -- or would you rather have an unsafe world where you can enter into the fray and see who you truly are and will be throughout eternity? What would you want for your children – a safe world without the possibility of challenge or self-sacrifice -- or an unsafe world, holding out the possibility of establishing a meaningful identity throughout eternity?  

We now move to the second natural virtue -- self-control or self-discipline. While courage is the pursuit of virtue over against the possibility of pain, self-control is the pursuit of virtue through the avoidance of destructive indulgence in pleasure and passion. Many philosophers have recognized that an unmitigated pursuit of pleasure can interfere with, or even undermine the pursuit of what is most noble, most pervasive, and most enduring. It can even lead to the destruction of ourselves and others. Yet these pleasures are not intrinsically evil. Food is obviously good for human beings, but an unmitigated pursuit of food (to the point of gluttony) will likely undermine (or at least slow down) the pursuit of the noble. A glass of wine may be good during a convivial meal, but excessive indulgence in it could lead to alcoholism and the undermining of family, job, and friends. Sexuality is a powerful binding force within marriage and family, but excessive indulgence in it can lead to broken relationships, a sense of betrayal, breakdown in commitments, and crimes of passion.  

Similarly, ego-satisfactions can also play a beneficial part in life. Success in a speech might encourage one to do more speaking. Achievement in studies might encourage one to pursue a Ph.D. Praise from others could build up self-esteem, but an unmitigated pursuit of success, achievement, and praise (as ends in themselves) will produce egocentricity and all of the negative emotions of the comparison game -- jealousy, fear of failure, ego-sensitivity, blame, rage, contempt, inferiority, superiority, self-pity, and emptiness (see the article – “Escaping Your Personal Hell”).  

Both sensorial and ego pleasures are a mixed blessing – in their proper place they can bring happiness, conviviality, and encouragement toward certain forms of achievement; but pursued uncontrollably as ends in themselves, they will very likely interfere with, and even undermine the pursuit of what is noble, pervasive, and enduring -- what is most meaningful and purposeful in life.  

This gives rise to the question of why God didn’t create a more perfect human being in a more perfect world. Why didn’t God just give us an “internal regulator” which would not allow us to eat too much, drink too much, desire too much? Why didn’t God put us in a world with just enough resources to satisfy our sensorial and ego-longings just enough for health but not enough to undermine our deepest purpose in life? We return to the same words we have seen time and time again – “choice” and “freedom.”  

Choosing to limit pleasure can be just as difficult as enduring pain for the sake of the good or noble. Thus the limiting of pleasure can be just as self-definitional as enduring pain. There is a real sacrifice involved in limiting pleasure -- sometimes it entails saying “no” amidst an irresistible urge; sometimes it means dealing with an addiction; sometimes it causes a profound restriction to freedom because we deny ourselves what we could have otherwise pursued; and sometimes it can make us look prudish in the midst of friends who do not share our view of happiness/identity.  

So, why didn’t God just create us with a behavioral governor inside our brains? Why didn’t God create a better human in a better world without the possibility of unmitigated desire for pleasure and ego satisfaction? Because God wants us to define ourselves in terms of ordinary, non-heroic choices – by choosing noble aspirations above the world of material pleasures. In the day-to-day, ordinary, non-heroic choices we make, an essence (self-definition) begins to form, etched in our character beyond mere thought and aspiration, through the constant pursuit of the little things that enable nobility to emerge from our souls.  

We might fail in this pursuit countless times, but our perseverance in the midst of struggles and failures can be extraordinarily effective in etching self-definition into our eternal souls. In God’s logic of unconditional love (which includes unconditional forgiveness and healing), our acts of contrition, our hope in forgiveness, our perseverance in the struggle for self-control, and our undying desire for the noble are all “part of the cost” of virtue, which makes that virtue more than a mere thought or aspiration. This struggle is the cost, which etches that virtue into our very eternal souls – the precious cost of self-definition.  

For this reason, God has created us with the capacity for all seven ���deadly sins” (gluttony, lust, sloth, greed, anger, envy, and pride) and a capacity to desire more than we need even to the point of undermining a good and noble life. God has done this to give us the privilege and freedom to choose the noble over against the possibility of the ignoble so that our virtue (or at least our struggle in pursuit of the virtuous) might be our own; so that it might be etched into our eternal souls; so that it might be part of our self-definition for all eternity.  

Up to this point, we have discussed why God would create us in an imperfect world giving rise to pain, weakness, vulnerability, death, and grief – so that we might freely choose the higher levels of purpose and identity as well as the virtues of courage and self-discipline for the sake of the noble. Yet if this is part of the reason why an all-loving God allows suffering, then we would waste our suffering if we fail to seek these opportunities in it. It is very difficult to concentrate on seeking opportunities in suffering when we are besieged by fear, anxiety, loneliness, anger, bitterness, and grief. This is precisely why I did not present the opportunities of suffering until this late point in the book. The first step in dealing with suffering is to bring fear, anxiety, and other negative emotions into perspective with prayer, rationality, prudence, and friends. Once we have a modicum of peace and stability – workable backup plans, a sense of God’s presence and help, and support from our friends – then we can begin to mine our suffering for the riches of higher purpose and identity, courage, and self-discipline – not to mention the forthcoming virtues of agapē, contribution, and seeking the kingdom of God.  

How do we begin the process of mining our suffering for these virtues? Ask questions directed at these virtues. In the case of the above virtues, we might ask, “Is there something more I should be living for? Is there a way I can enter more deeply into Level 3 contributive purpose and identity? Is there a way I could enter more deeply into Level 4 transcendent identity? Is there a way I could deepen my faith and my relationship with the loving God? Is there a way I could be more deliberate about pursuing the noble – even at the cost of self-sacrifice? Is there a way I could be more temperate and disciplined for the sake of the noble?” These questions are not meant to be answered immediately. They are meant to stimulate both conscious and subconscious reflection – and when we repeat them in the midst of our suffering – they direct our conscious and subconscious mind to look for answers within ourselves, our dreams, our conversations, and every other aspect of our lives. We become like Archimedes – with openended anticipation of an answer to our questions – and eventually when we see the water rising in the baths of Syracuse, we get the clue and shout – “Eureka, I have found it!”  

I think it would be just like an unconditionally loving God not only to give us the free choice to appropriate higher levels of purpose and identity as well as the virtues of courage and self-discipline, but also to give us the opportunity and creativity to discover, pursue, and develop our own particular way to do this. Though suffering is painful and negative, it provides this opportunity for growth, creativity, and self-definition.  

________

7 See Martin Heidegger Being and Time pp.272- 274.

8 See Jean-Paul Sartre Being and Nothingness pp. 140-143, 177, 465-467.

[fipindustries]

third week at the book store

is like the universe realized i’m doing this and decided to increase the amounts of zanyness in my life just to give me material, for example:

there is a guy who sits to play the acordion at the entrance of the book store every day and today it was when the season hit it stride and the clients where are it’s most demanding, so my morning was basically me on a frantic haze in the middle of a crowd chasing book while a silly little acordion tune was playing in the background and i realized i suddenly was in the middle of a movie montage.

but anyway, let’s start.

on scatological happenstances:

i literally, no bullshit or embellishment, crapped my pants in the middle of my job (must have been something i ate). I cannot believe such a sitcom situation could have happened to me and yet it did. Luckly i live five minutes away of my house and one of my bosses was understanding enough to let me go and change my pant without having to really explain any embarassing details, i just had to mumble something about an emergency change of clothes and she allowed me to discreetly leave my position, though i did hear her mutter under her breath as i walked away “this is the first and last time this happens”

more about understanding bosses:

this is a nicer anecdote that could have ended much worse.

i usually have the bad impulse of getting in the middle of a sale that another employee is having with a client if i think i have pertinent information and i have done it with my manager in more than one ocassion. And he warned me that if i ever did that again then he was just going to dump the client on me regardless of if was already busy with something else.

so, one day he is talking with a client and the client mentions a book that i remembered seeing in the deposit room a few days ago, now my boss was just about to explain that the book wasnt on the store but i interrupted and said that we did have the book.

my manager gets understandably annoyed by this and, as he promised, he dumps in me the responsability to go find the book (which he is convinced it’s not there) just to set me up to fail and then having to explain the client that i had lied to him.

now this sounds like the typical story when the spunky and wide eyed young employee proves his worth to his old and stupid boss, right?

wrong, i was actually really ashamed of my self and worried i had angered my boss so i go look for the book (and find it) and then i check the database and i realized what happened was that the database showed the book as nonexistant even though we had it and that was why the boss thought it wasnt there. this doesnt change the fact that the boss is angry at me so, in a very contrite manneri go back and try to explain what happened, to which my boss answers that i had to explain the client that we couldnt sell the boo to them.

i take this as the boss trying to make a point on me so that i dont make the same mistake again, i have a quick debate of whether i should ignore my boss and sell the book anyway but i decide it was not worth risking making my boss angrier, so i put down the book, tell the client we dont have it and send them away.

then my boss starts to explain in a very condescending tone about how we should mind our own bussines and not interrupt in the middle of a situation we dont understand and then a thought cames to me, could it be that he still thought we didnt have the book?

so very timidly i explain i did found the book and he stops and looks at me confused, and then he looks at the book whichj i am holding in my hand and with the most doumbfounded of expressions he asks “then why didnt you tell me?” i explain that i did tell him and it turns out he misheard me saying the book wanst on the database.

and then the weirdest thing of all happens, he actually apologizes for his mistake, even though in a lot of ways it was my stupidity which ruined a sale that could have happened he still apologized to me. and it it was at that moment i realized i had been reading far too many stories about cartoonishly unreasonable bosses and that was what i had taken him for.

funny how life works out.

(the book was tales of earthsea 3 by ursula leguin, btw)

one more about me being a terrible employee:

my coworkers started noticing that i’m writing these notes down and when they asked me what they ere for i answered “for my blog”

so one particularly slow day where no clients where showing up my boss decides to kill time by asking him to show him my blog. this blog. on this blue hellsite. a danger everyone on the internet always jokes about and yet i never thought could actually happen for real.

cue the steamed hams sequence.

thankfully everything was in english and i hadnt rebbloged porn or any other weird pictures in weeks so everything my boss saw was a bunch of english posts he didnt understood.

dodged that fucking bullet.

some other anecdotes that had nothing to do with my job

part a, my grandfther:

there was a time, as a teenager, where i actually went every week to have lunch and my grandparent’s house after school. in many of these visits i would talk to my grandma (the more talkative and amenable of my grandpas) about what i had done at school.

so one day im talking about some programming that i had done, computer talk, i’m trying to talk in terms as generic as possible because i know she doesnt really follow the subject that well when suddenly, out of nowhere, my grandfather asks me “but... how does a computer store all those things inside? how does that work?”

now keep in mind a couple of things, first, my grandpa almost never talks, and never at all about computers, he doesnt even have a cellphone, not even an old model, he never did,so i dont know where this sudden interest comes from.

secondly, i have no idea where to even start explaining this shit to him, specially considering i dont really have that good a grasp on it my self.

so there i am, trying to juggle in my head things such as flip flop logic gates, binary data, adressing, memory allocation and etc when from out of the ether a moment of pure inspiration come to me and i say

“well, it like how a battery holds electricity inside, right?”

now i know this is not actually quite how it works but the things is that i tink i still did a pretty good job conveying the idea of how we can store huge amounts of abstract energy into a very small physical support, like you see a flashlight and you may wonder how is it possible that such a small recipent can contain so much continuous light?

anyway, my grandpa just nodded and made no further questions

part b, a D&D story:

now excuse me if this dont reach the hilarity levels of a mcelroy podcast but anyway.

this was the third time ever that i was playing D&D and i wanted to play an elf, but not just any elf, a 25 year old elf, esentially a little kid. and i really play to it, i acted naive, innocent, childlike, you get the gist.

so eventually got into the grimy bussiness of a combat encounter, as one does, my party got ambushed by a group of cultists and we started kicking and stabbing and killing and eventually we managed to whittle them down to one single guy. And in line with my young innocence i try to the very last moment to negotiate and talk things through, so when there is just one guy left i sort of stop and ask him desperate “stop! we’ve already killed all you comarades, we are more than you, what are you expecting to get out of this!?”

so the cultist just up and kills himself in front of my poor little character traumatizing him for life and the funny thing is that on some level it got to me, i honestly said that in the hopes that the DM would just stop and give us a chance to interrogate him and that move caught me completly by surprise.

so that was fun.

me being a revolutionary fighting against authority:

a lot of my job involves taking peoples credits cards and identity documents so that they can pay for the book without actual cash, i always have to remind the clients to give me their papers so that i cant actually perform the payment.

one time a cop came to buy some books and i had the rare chance to flip the tables and ask a cop for his documentation.

it was exhilarating

thoughts on books:

i believe that we (and by we i meant those with an actual brain on their heads), we all wish for a world where books are more beloved and respected by everyone, but we forget what happened last time a book became too loved and respected.

that’s right, that book is called, the bible.

(as i was trying to jot this silly little joke on a piece of paper i was interrupted by a client who came to buy a bible, this is not a coincidence because etc)

more on the good book:

these are very real mangas about the old and new testament that we sell in our book store, now im not surprised that these exists as much as i am surprised by the fact tha my very noirmal and serious book store sells these right next to real official bibles like it’s no big deal.

now some actual serious thoughts on religion:

two interesting and opposite situations in which christianity triumphed despite overwhelming odds against, told by someone with a very feeble grasp of history:

first with the roman empire, the romans were the undisputed supreme empire and the christians were a small nation of desert dwellers who existed only to be crucified or fed to the lions, yet eventually the whole empire turned into the chatolic apostolic roman church and were in fact the main reason it spread so far through the world.

on the other side there is the afro american communities taking into slavery on the emergent america. Even though slaves had every reason to hate and curse the god of their slavers the fact is they actually clinged on to christianity pretty hard, to the point that in the long run the black communities became a staple of american christianit, what with gospel and such.

christianity seems to be infectious regardless of it being the champion or the underdog.

thoughts on loosing weight, though it can be applied to other things:

there are two options:

either you dont do it because you can’t or because you won’t.

if you can’t then there is no shame to that becuase it would be unfair to ask the impossible.

if you wont, you can pretend you could if you only wanted to, and this is you choosing not to and there is no shame on that either.

[mediumsizedfountain]

I have a headcanon about Cassian Andor being a surrogate family member to tons of rebels because he keeps picking up strays on his missions and bringing them in as recruits. (lengthy headcanon below)

So I was thinking about how the jobs of spy/assassin and recruiter probably involve very different skill sets and activities, yet it’s documented in numerous places that Cassian did both.

That got me thinking about how ditching Jyn, Bodhi, Chirrut and Baze after he no longer needed them would be a perfectly rational thing for a spy/assassin to do, but would have seemed dramatically out of character for Cassian.

So I headcanon that the sort of friendly charm he exhibits with Tivik in the beginning is something that comes naturally to him - it’s a part of who he really is. The hard, vacant mask he wears is a result of repeated emotional trauma - it’s based on things that happened to him and things he did for the cause, rather than who he really is.

And because of that, I don’t think Bodhi, Chirrut and Baze are the first strays or refugees that he’s picked up.

I think he was brought into intelligence/black ops because he was level headed in a tight situation and his natural charm worked well to get information out of people. What Draven and the other intelligence folks hadn’t counted on was his big heart.

His superiors probably cringed the first time he was sent out to gather info on how to destroy an Imperial arms depo, and came back with three feisty street kids in tow. But how could he just leave them? he argues. They were starving and getting caught up in a criminal gang. They’re full of fight - they’ll make great recruits. So they humor him this time but tell him not to do it again.

A few missions later it happens again. They send him to assassinate the commander of an Imperial outpost, and he brings back an adult brother and sister whose business was destroyed after the Imperials accused them of black market dealings, and who had been hiding out in the same abandoned building where he set up his sniper station. This time he’s reprimanded, and he acts contrite.

But then it happens again. And again.

Finally the recruiting department gets in touch with intelligence and praises all the great recruits Andor has brought in, and asks if he can be transferred to their department full time. Draven rolls his eyes. Andor is too good an operative to give up. But the kid just won’t stop bringing in strays. So he finally tells the recruiting department that they can’t have Andor full time, but he’s willing to share him. That gives Andor an official excuse to keep on bringing in the random people he adopts, but also keeps him doing the intelligence work he’s so good at.

As a result Andor becomes well-liked and well-respected throughout the Rebellion. But he doesn’t let himself get too close to any of them. He has dozens of pals and friendly acquaintances - many of whom look up to him as a surrogate dad/brother/uncle - but no good friends. Because he’s convinced that if he tried to be good friends with someone they would eventually find out all the dark shit he’s done for intelligence, and get disgusted by him. That’s why his best friend is a droid who thinks tactical murders are a brilliant idea. K2 won’t ever judge him for what he’s had to do.

But the isolation gets to him. It wears him down. It’s not natural for his character to be isolated like that.

That’s why when Jyn and Bodhi give him a mission he wouldn’t have to keep secret - a mission he could proudly talk about to all the people he wishes were his friends - he jumps into action without hesitation.

He’s ready to openly become the man he already was in his heart.

(This man makes me cry. All the time.)

[olmcdenver]

Divine Mercy: Understanding God’s Message | By: Crystal Peccia

Ciao. My name is Crystal and I am the Religious Education Director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Denver. I want to share with you something that is very near and dear to my heart: Divine Mercy.

I had never heard of Divine Mercy until a few years ago when my mother-in-law was visiting from Italy. She gave me a pamphlet about Saint Maria Faustina and her visions of hell. This pamphlet was in Italian so I had to ask my husband to translate it for me. As he was reading, I was mesmerized and set out to learn more about this nun and her writings. I didn’t know where to begin and, as often times happens to me, God showed me the way. About the same time, a couple of books had been donated to the Religious Education program and, among those donated books, was a copy of Saint Faustina’s Diary. I took the diary home and began to read. I could not put it down. I read it from cover to cover and bought my own copy and just about everything else I could get my hands on about Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy. As you can imagine, I have quite a collection. In the pages of that diary, I found the limitless love and mercy God has for each of us, especially those most unworthy of His mercy. Now, I already know God is merciful and that His love is limitless. After all, His only Son died on the cross for all of us, but there is something about the words Jesus instructed Saint Faustina to write that is awe-inspiring. I fell in love with Divine Mercy.

A Brief History

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska was born in Poland in August 1905 to a poor family. She had only a third grade education when she became a nun. Mother Superior of the convent where she lived said, “She [Saint Faustina] was no one special with no discernible qualities.” In fact, the other nuns living with her often ridiculed her and labeled her as lazy. No one knew that Jesus had chosen Saint Faustina to be His secretary and that He would appear to her and instruct her to keep a diary that would bring His Divine Mercy to a very troubled world. Saint Faustina recorded her mission in that diary, wrote down all of our Lord’s wishes, and described the encounters between her soul and Him. Consumed by tuberculosis and innumerable sufferings, which she offered for poor sinners, Saint Faustina died in Cracow at the age of 33 on October 5, 1938. 

Even before her death, devotion to Divine Mercy began to spread and became a refuge for those caught up in World War II. In 1941, a priest brought Divine Mercy to the United States; but, as was foretold in Saint Faustina’s diary in 1959, the Church banned devotion to Divine Mercy. Twenty years later however, the ban was lifted thanks in large part to the Archbishop of Cracow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who later became Saint Pope John Paul II, also known as the Divine Mercy Pope. Saint Pope John Paul II would canonize Saint Faustina on April 30, 2000. That day just happened to be the second Sunday of Easter. He announced that the second Sunday of Easter would be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the universal church. Divine Mercy is now celebrated on the Sunday after Easter as our Lord requested.

Receiving Graces

I believe that our Lord, in His great mercy, is giving us yet another opportunity to reconcile with Him. Divine Mercy Sunday is that opportunity. Jesus promises that those of us who participate on that day will receive great graces and forgiveness of sins. To prepare ourselves for Divine Mercy we must do the following:

Repent for all our sins and make a good Confession before that Sunday. Review your sins and express true sorrow for those sins, hatred of those sins, and a firm resolution not to sin again. A great way to accomplish this is to review the Ten Commandments. Remember, actual sin is the sin we ourselves commit. There are two kinds of actual sin, venial and mortal. Venial sins are those sins that we sometimes commit without thought. An example would be a white lie. A mortal sin is very serious and should be confessed immediately. A mortal sin involves the knowledge that one is about to commit a serious sin, one has sufficient understanding of what is about to happen, and one has the freedom of will and acts of one’s own accord. Next, we go into the confessional or face-to-face with a priest and confess those sins we have committed. Another thing to remember is that Jesus is present during Confession. Once sins have been confessed and an act of contrition is made, the priest will grant absolution (forgiveness) and give penance. Penance is an act which we do after leaving the confessional to show God we are truly sorry for our sins and that we will make every effort not to sin again. 

Receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday. This must be a worthy Communion, meaning a good Confession has taken place prior to receiving Jesus. It is also accompanied by complete trust in Divine Mercy. 

Venerate the image of the Divine Mercy. Our Lord appeared to Saint Faustina in a vision clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment near His heart, from which two large rays came forth, one red and the other white. Our Lord said to Faustina, “Paint an image according to the pattern you see here with the signature: Jesus, I trust in you. I promise the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Diary 47, 48). Saint Faustina then asked what the two rays meant. Jesus replied, “The white beam represents the water that cleanses and purifies the soul, the red, the blood that gives new life to souls” (Diary 299).  To venerate simply means to perform some act or make some gesture of deep religious respect toward the object because of the person it represents – in this case, our most merciful Savior. 

Be merciful to others through actions, words, and prayers. Our Lord’s promise to us on the feast of Divine Mercy is that He will grant complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. His exact words are, “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary 699).

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Jesus also requested that we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which can be prayed on regular rosary beads. This is a powerful chaplet! Saint Faustina once had a vision of an angel sent by God to punish a certain city. She began to pray for mercy, but her prayers were powerless. Suddenly, she saw the Holy Trinity and felt the power of Jesus’ grace within her. At the same time, she found herself pleading with God for mercy with words she heard internally: “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and the Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (Diary 474-476). As she continued to pray this prayer, the angel became powerless and could not carry out the deserved punishment. In fact, Jesus asks us to pray this chaplet and meditate on His passion at 3:00pm each day. Jesus said, “This is the hour of great mercy, in this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request on Me in virtue of My Passion” (Diary 1320).

Conclusion

All that is required of us to obtain God’s great mercy is to want it, to ask for it, and above all, to trust in His Divine Mercy. Jesus waits for us! We should not ever be afraid to approach Jesus and ask for His mercy. No matter what we’ve done, He is willing to forgive us if only we ask for it with a pure heart. Many parishes are celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday with the recitation of the Chaplet, Mass, and Confession. Here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we will sing the Chaplet at 6:30am on Sunday April 23rd followed by our 7:00am Mass. It is my hope that all will take advantage of God’s love and mercy by attending a celebration. I ask God to bless you and keep you always in His constant care and protection. Thank you.

 - Crystal Peccia, DRE

[catholiccom-blog]

Am I Really Not Allowed to Cuss or Swear?

Years ago when I was a proud avionics technician in the Air Force I made a decision to follow Jesus and realized there was a lot in my life that needed amending. One of those things was the profane language I often used. I had about a decade of training in foulmouthery, and being part of a group of people who didn’t blink at cuss words and crude language didn’t help my personal reform.

I can remember one day I broke a tiny bolt off the bulkhead that held together a wiring harness—no big deal. We called out the structural guys and they would perform a twenty-four-hour modification to make the bolt like new. The next morning, I grabbed my torque wrench and got started on the fix again. With just a bit too much pressure—SNAP!­­—it broke again.  

What did I do next? Let’s just say that I repeated a four-letter-word about forty times fast.

On the fortieth repetition, I recalled that I had been trying to stop cussing for the rest of my life and then feeling a huge amount of shame, for I had just been witnessing to my battle buddy about my recent conversion. He said he didn’t mind. Years later I lost a pretty nice size northern pike to an easy mistake, and after cussing myself and apologizing for my language a Christian friend of mine reassured me that it was okay to cuss.

Is it? What about just a little, or in a joke? If I hit my thumb with a hammer, would it be a sin to utter an expletive? What can I say to the guy who just cut me off in traffic? As I’ll show you, the Bible and the Church take this matter seriously.

Cursing, swearing, and cussing

First, I should make sure we’re using the same language when talking about bad language. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines “cursing” as “call[ing] down evil upon God or creatures, rational or irrational, living or dead.” A curse, the encyclopedia provides, can be a general curse for ill-fate or could involve the weather, earth, and disasters. We also distinguish taking the Lord’s name in vain from the way we use it to curse others: one is a violation of the second commandment, the other is a combination of breaking the commandment and profanity. Profanity has the same meaning as cussing, and we all know what profanities are, so there is no need to provide examples.  

What does the Bible say?

Profanities are hurtful, blasphemous, vulgar, wicked, and uncouth. They are the worst things that can come from our mouths, and the Bible warns to the effect of this truth:

Colossians 3:8 “But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”

James 3:10 “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.”

Several verses from the New and Old Testaments warn of the destruction in crude, defiling language, or even poor choice of words.

Matthew 15:11 “[It is] not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Ephesians 5:1-33 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

The Bible’s words demand no elucidation: what we say matters! Why? There’s a number of good reasons, but the primary reason Christians shouldn’t use profanity is because the Bible tells us without doubt that profanity is comparable to malice and slander, should never be repeated, and contradicts blessing—a principal act of Christ’s followers. God created the entire universe by speaking, and as creatures made in the image of God and having the Holy Spirit in us, it is our charge to be co-creators of goodwill and blessings, not defamations.

What about swearing?

Occasionally, too, some will say we ought not to swear, as in making oaths. This can get confusing when the Bible seems contradictory. In some places Scripture admonishes us to keep the oaths that we make. For example, Numbers 30:2 tells us, “When a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

But Jesus—whose teaching was a sum of all the prophets and law—said:

But I say to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil (Matt. 5:34-37).

Does this mean we shouldn’t make promises or oaths? This question impact many events so familiar to us: military oaths, the inaugural oath of office, wedding vows, and even the penitential act of contrition we recite in the Sacrament of Confession. Don’t sweat: not all oaths are immoral. As Tim Staples points out, Jesus honored the oath the high priest placed him under in Matthew 26:63: “I adjure thee by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Tim explains, “If Jesus taught oaths to be unlawful or immoral, he would not have responded or he would have protested and made clear that he did not agree with the concept of oaths.” Jesus used hyperbole to make the point that Christians are bound—and indeed judged—by what they do, rather than what they promise, or what they base their promise on.

The Church says…

The Catechism is clear that we are never to use God’s name in a foul way: “The second commandment forbids the abuse of God's name, i.e., every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary and all the saints” (2146). The Catechism also is agreeable with Scripture regarding swears of the oaths-type:

Promises made to others in God's name engage the divine honor, fidelity, truthfulness, and authority. They must be respected in justice. To be unfaithful to them is to misuse God's name and in some way to make God out to be a liar… The second commandment forbids false oaths. Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms. It is to invoke the divine truthfulness as a pledge of one's own truthfulness. An oath engages the Lord's name. "You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name” (CCC 2147, 2150).

Other than the texts cited above from the Catechism, the Church doesn’t speak directly on the use of profanity. The teaching in demonstrable from biblical texts alone.

What’s the bottom line?

Sometimes we say things we don’t mean, words slip, or we don’t realize the full weight of what something means. Other times, we make promises we don’t intend to keep, or we’re hypocrites. We should remember that what we say matters. We are called to not conform to the world (Rom. 12:2), and we are called to a very high standard of living (Phil. 4:8). We should use words that build up people and the kingdom of God, not words that destroy and curse. To take it a step further, “Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness” (2 Tim. 2:16).

Before you speak or make an oath, remember Jesus’ promise: “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36).

[sailoreuterpe]

Sparkle Sparkle!

@katrani: I’ve been working on it until the very last, but here it is! I tried to incorporate as many of your prompts as possible, but I’m not sure how successful I was. Please let me know if I can change anything to make it better for you! Happy holidays!

****1000 Words****

They fought so rarely. This thing between them was so new that the smallest crack might shatter it, and Michiru was too scared and too selfish to set Haruka free. And so their few fights ended with Haruka crying quietly in her own apartment across the hall and Michiru in her studio, pretending to paint, pretending to be OK.

It was over something so stupid, too! All Haruka wanted was to take Michiru to some cherished restaurant. But Michiru couldn't hide the disdain that had flashed across her face fast enough for soldiers reflexes. Normal humans would have never seen even the slightest sneer accompanied by a raised, perfect eyebrow. But Haruka was not normal; she was special, and Michiru had crushed her.

"It's fine! Never mind! I know, you're used to all those nice places. I just, I used to go their with my--never mind, we can go to that one place again!" And Haruka had continued rambling until Michiru had held up a beautiful, manicured hand.

"Actually, Haruka, I really must finish this new piece. My show next week is missing it's focal point and I've been so out of sorts with the mission that I haven't had time to work on it."

"No, that makes sense! I'm sorry! We can go out tomorrow, or later. Whenever!" Michiru could see the tears beginning in those beautiful green eyes and Michiru felt like a monster. Haruka turned to go, her hand on the doorknob trembling ever-so slightly. "I'm just going to go and work on some strategy. Uh, good luck on the painting, OK?"

And so Michiru sat, brush held limply on her thigh, staring at a blank canvas. The piece de resistance of her upcoming show was finished weeks ago. Michiru wondered if she would always be the perfect statue her parents had wanted. Would it even matter? If The Silence won, they'd all die anyway. In a twisted way, the thought comforted her as she finally dabbed the brush into a dark blue on her palette.

But she didn't want that for Haruka. Even if they didn't make it as a couple, Michiru wanted Haruka alive and happy. Even if it meant that Haruka hated Michiru as much as Michiru sometimes hated herself.

The teal-haired girl painted absently onto the canvas as her thoughts swirled. Haruka was a light in the darkness, as cliche as that was. She was the wind, the very air to Michiru, and all Michiru wanted was to protect the blond girl from The Silence, their destiny as soldiers, and anything else that might threaten Haruka.

As the picture before her took shape, Michiru barely noticed. She often painted on instinct; some part of her always knowing at a glance where to place the perfect dab of color to produce the best response. But today, she found herself even more distracted.

They really hadn't had a fight, after all. It hadn't been like her parents' fights--silence and stony glares across the dinner table as Michiru sat and picked at whatever delicacy the chef had made in vain. They hadn't screamed at one another like the younger girls tended to do, the few times Haruka and Michiru had been privy to their spats. It had simply been Michiru being Michiru and Haruka fleeing from the unavoidable truth of the gulf between them.

But were they so different? Michiru liked to think that she wasn't her parents or their ilk; though she played her part and knew her own darker aspects, she at least could admit that she was a product of money and shiny things meant to distract. Michiru knew how to manipulate but didn't relish it like so many of the elite around her did.

And Haruka--Haruka was barely out of abject poverty. Only her own genius on the racetrack had made her the world-renown celebrity Michiru had found at that art gallery so many months ago. Haruka could hide her roots behind beautiful suits and pretty flirting, but she couldn't stamp down how she loved terrible American beer and silly tee-shirts, videos of cats and listening to the old records that her late grandma had adored.

Michiru dabbled gold across the canvas. Haruka was truth, to Michiru. She was real and she was kind and Haruka was convinced that she was doomed. Michiru didn't care about any supposed sins that they had committed as far as she herself was concerned; she'd accepted her fate when she'd closed her eyes and let the visions take over. She'd accepted every terrible part of being a senshi when she'd taken that damn pen. Because she'd known that Haruka was out there, waiting, and Haruka was worth damnation.

But Haruka needed protection. Haruka needed someone to love her, even as she insisted that no one could now. Michiru loved Haruka. She would have loved Haruka even if she'd always stayed the poor street brat, forever trying to make it in the world that they were trying to save. They were trying so very hard to save them all, despite how very cruel everyone had been to the one person that Michiru would have sheltered at any cost.

The painting grew and Michiru continued to add and reflect. As she worked, her mood calmed, and her heart lightened. Even thinking of Haruka in such bleak terms brought Michiru comfort. Haruka did that to you, she reasoned. Even Usagi and her friends had warmed to Haruka immediately on meeting, and all four of those younger girls seemed ready to kill anything that even looked at Usagi askance. Because that was Haruka. She flirted and she laughed, and you wanted her to flirt with you and you wanted to share her laugh.

Michiru didn't know how she would make this right, but she wasn't as despondent as when she'd sat down. Haruka was fragile, but Michiru had her entire life of repairing things to teach her when no one else could or would. She was new to real love, but she wasn't an amateur at acts of contrition. Michiru would fix this. She would show Haruka how much her simple joys made Michiru appreciate her own hidden loves. She would make Haruka see how her poor background gave Michiru comfort, because it meant Haruka knew how to survive. Michiru would force Haruka to see how much she mattered despite her rough edges, and how those edges fit so well with Michiru's own sharp corners.

Together, they were whole. Michiru painted and a small smile bloomed on her beautiful face. She would find a way to make Haruka see that.

~~*~~

Haruka wiped her eyes on the tissue in her hand before wiping her nose. She had retreated to her room as soon as Michiru had dismissed her. Now she sat with a book in front of her, failing to read a single word.

Michiru had been right to sneer, of course. The restaurant Haruka had suggested wasn't even close to what Michiru deserved. But Haruka loved their food and the staff had always been so kind to her and her grandmother when she'd been small. She'd just wanted to share that with Michiru.

Because Michiru was amazing, plain and simple. Haruka wondered on the daily how she'd ended up dating someone as special as the stunning Michiru Kaioh, world-renowned artist and musician. If Haruka was feeling particularly self-loathing, she'd remind herself that they were soldiers and partners before they'd ever even considered dating.

But being partners and actually being together weren't mutually exclusive, Haruka told herself as she flipped aimlessly through the pages of her book, sitting on her bed. It wasn't like Michiru had to date Haruka to be a soldiers. If anything, not being involved would probably be safer; there was a reason Jedi weren't supposed to have emotional ties, after all.

Haruka laughed weakly at her own reference. Michiru had consented to watching the Star Wars movies for a date night some weeks ago, though she'd made dry comments throughout.  It was how Michiru operated, after all. Though she might look down on some of Haruka's tastes, she tried to participate in them all. Michiru tried her best for Haruka.

That's why it was so stupid that Haruka hadn't even tried to explain! But it was so hard to bring up her grandmother, even now. She'd been the only person to truly love Haruka until Michiru, and now she was gone before she'd even gotten to meet the girl Haruka loved in return.

Because Haruka did love Michiru. If they managed to not die horribly in the coming war with The Silence, Haruka wanted to spend the rest of her life with Michiru. They might be young, her grandmother would have inevitably said, but Haruka knew what she felt. Michiru was what Haruka wanted.

Michiru was water to a dying woman. She was her music, haunting and wise. She was what made everything worth the fear and the pain. Every violent act, every innocent hurt, every invisible scar on Haruka's soul--it was all pointless without Michiru there to support and protect and help.

The blond looked out of the window at the waning sunlight and sighed. Michiru had everything. She was beautiful and refined. Still, she'd chosen Haruka, even when Haruka was chained to this terrible, thankless task. And if Michiru saw something worthy in Haruka, then it had to be there. Because Michiru Kaioh did not suffer fools or bother with worthless things.

A knock at her door startled Haruka out of her reverie. Michiru had a key to Haruka's apartment just as Haruka had one to Michiru's. They'd actually started dancing around the idea of moving in together, but so far it had all just been innocent comments and shy questions. Michiru always knocked when she came over, though. She respected Haruka's privacy, unlike almost everyone else in the world.

"Hi, Michiru. How's the painting coming along?" Haruka said with a smile, even as the redness about her eyes gave away what she'd been doing for the last few hours.

"It's nearly done, actually. I just wanted to come get your opinion on it." Michiru took Haruka's hand and led her across the hall and into Michiru's studio. Among the paintings Haruka saw familiar shapes and people. She herself featured prominently. Although Haruka had been there many times, she was always awed by the beauty and talent in each piece. Michiru was a genius.

"What do you think?"

Haruka looked towards where Michiru directed her vision with a paint-splattered--but still gorgeous, as far as Haruka was concerned--hand. Haruka gasped.

"How did you?" Her grandmother smiled out serenely from the canvas, the child Haruka in her arms. She'd not yet shown Michiru her few photographs, and the image was stylized, but it was as surely her nana looking back out at her. That was her smile, her favorite sweater in blue and gold, the wet paint almost shining in the spotlights about the room.

"My mirror--I can make it show me the past as well as the future." Michiru said with a tired smile.

"Michiru, you shouldn't strain yourself!" Haruka said as she took Michiru's elbow and led her to the couch in the corner, for when Michiru just couldn't leave her work.

"Do you not like it?" Michiru said  with a sideways glance, waiting for Haruka to tell her that it was all terrible. But Haruka sat her down gently, and then took her rainbow hands.

"Michiru," The taller girl brought one hand to her lips. "Michiru, it's beautiful. I, I--"

"I really wanted to finish it tonight." Michiru said simply.

"I love it and," Haruka gulped back the tears that threatened to spill, "She would have loved you."

"I'm not so sure, but thank you." Haruka laughed as she readjusted her seat so that Michiru could lay her head on Haruka's shoulder.

"You make me happy. That's all she ever wanted for me."

"You make me happy, too, Haruka."

They fell asleep that way, leaning on one another for comfort. The painting dried and the silence outside wasn't so frightening when they were together. Whatever would come for them, they would face it together. They fought with all their strength against so much in the world, but they were together.

That was enough.

[shewearsherselftoat]

So I posted this on Reddit like a few (maybe three years ago), and they had the nerve to say something rude and bam me from using their website. Thank God, because that is how I found Tumblr - through a friend Jessie - and started my own conspiracy theory blog, but that has been closed down and not recovered even though my name is very similar - capitalization may be off. Anyhow, next post will be the email they sent to me after my post and follow-up comment here.

michelejean1

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michelejean1 commented on MY C-Theory: JonBenet Ramsey wasn't just a cover-up; it's involved.

•r/JonBenet

•Posted byu/michelejean1

michelejean1

1 point

·

22 minutes ago

Now....for another eye-opening moment here: Let's take a look at the ransom letter (as taken from the book by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, authors of Mindhunter and THE ANATOMY OF MOTIVE), pp.271-273.

Mr. Ramsey,

Listen carefully! We are a group of individuals that represent a small foreign faction. We [cross-out] respect your bussiness but not the country that it serves. At this time we have your daughter in our posession. She is safe and un harmed and if you want her to see 1997, you must follow our instructions to the letter. <-----Last line, note that they make clear if you want her to LIVE to see 1997, you must follow the instructions; however, there is no promise of an exchange or 'pick-up' of the daughter. She can live, but not be delivered back home; or what else? Because this is a very vague statement/promise. There is no promise of her safety, even if she does continue to live.

(Now this first paragraph misleads. In one hunch, the author(s) want us to believe that they are illiterate. Set-up #1. Who is or Who are the individual(s) being set-up for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey? Let's continue as I believe there are various authors to this letter. Look at grammar, context, VOICE, semantics, use of commas, capitalizations, and wording/vocabulary). Also, don't forget tone - At times, there appears to be contriteness, but more of a menacing underlying tone.

(new paragraph according to book - new line plus indentation)

You will withdraw $118,000.00 from your account. $100,000 will be in $100 bills and the remaining $18,000 in $20 bills. Make sure that you bring an adequate size attache to the bank. When you get home you will put the money in a brown paper bag.

(Another pause - why the heck in a brown paper bag!??? What reference is this, or what is it in reference to? It's more than random, but nothing is coincidence. I believe that randomness either comes from free association (see psychological terms) or ???? Could it be a slight to the Mother? Were brown paper bag lunches a thing of the time? Were groceries placed in brown paper bags? Because this is confusing me. You wouldn't put such valuable things in a brown paper bag, which at best is flimsy and can be blown away - it is lightweight and not secure). Now, for a "RANDOM" example, a HUGE retailer (Bloomingdale's) sells a plastic handbag with the following writing on it: Little Brown Bag. Valued at $26. Why do I post this? It must be random.

📷

BLOOMINGDALE'S

Little Brown Bag - 100% Exclusive

4.6 (54)Write A Review $26.00 GIFT CARD OFFER DETAILS COLOR: Brown

PRODUCT DETAILS

Everyone's favorite Bloomies souvenir. Water-resistant plastic reproduction of our "Little Brown Bag." Durable, easy to clean and great for everyday use.

Double handles

Open top; unlined

7.75"W x 4.5"D x 8.75"H; 6" handle drop

This item is part of our 100% Bloomingdale’s collection, featuring exclusive pieces you won’t find anywhere else.

Plastic

Made in USA

WARNING: Prop 65 Notice for CA customers

Web ID: 108037

NOW ENOUGH WITH THIS - ONTO THE NEXT LINE FROM THE SAME PARAGRAPH:

(cont'd - continued in same paragraph)

I will call you between 8 and 10 am tomorrow to instruct you on delivery. <------How do they know what time they (family/parents) are going to "find" her? Or NOT going to find her? So hazy parts here: According to one source, there was a party the night before. A Christmas Party. What was the family's history of behavior when it comes to family gatherings and outsiders? Another source claimed that is was celebration party for the promotion and bonus the father had received from work. Yet, they usually kept to themselves is what I read somewhere. So this seems out of the ordinary. Truth was, the father was relieved from his job. So was the motive...money-based, or was it meant to look money-based? The "party" the night before, or if it was a gathering, could've been the moment to frame the parents/family for the upcoming crime. Hunch: So it was still someone on the inside.

Let's continue.

The delivery will be exhausting so I advise you to be rested. <-----exhausting? WTH (What the heck!?) And why is the word 'advise' sticking out like a sore thumb to me?

If we monitor you getting the money early, we might call you early to arrange an earlier delivery of the [Page 2] money and hence a earlier [cross-out] pick-up of your daug hter. <-------Change in the lines - from line-to-line. contriteness here plus why use the word 'getting' right after a fancy-pants line? There is substantial inconsistency throughout the letter. AS I previously mentioned: Look at grammar, context, VOICE, semantics, use of commas, capitalizations, and wording/vocabulary). Also, don't forget tone.

(new paragraph according to book - new line plus indentation)

Any deviation of my instructions will result in the immediate execution of your daughter. <---- This line implies NO MERCY.You will also be denied her remains for proper burial. <-----WTF (What the f***)! This is more than sinister. The two gentlemen watching over your daughter do not particularly like you so I advise you not to provoke them. <---So, this line implies that (a) there are two other men involved OR (b) it is classic projection. The men writing this part, or this sentence, are filled with animosity towards (a) daughter and/or (b) father/family AND IN ADDITION are using a guilt tactic to prevent father/family from fighting back. Essentially, the blame is placed for the daughter's abduction upon the shoulders of the father. They mean business, but they are also very psychological beings (not in a good way).

BREAK-TIME AND THEN NEW THREAD!!!!!!!l

MY C-Theory: JonBenet Ramsey wasn't just a cover-up; it's involved.

r/JonBenet

•

Posted byu/michelejean1

1 hour ago

1 Comment

MY C-Theory: JonBenet Ramsey wasn't just a cover-up; it's involved.l

r/JonBenet

•Posted byu/michelejean1

1 hour ago

MY C-Theory: JonBenet Ramsey wasn't just a cover-up; it's involved.

So, here's a bit of a conspiracy theory for you all: JonBenet Ramsey is NOT dead. I've done some research for approximately less than 1 year, and it's been a hard one to solve. I've went from desperate to resourceful; I've shopped some theories, but then I stopped short, because another's bias will lead me down the same trail. To a dead end. Instead, I believe I got creative. And at first, I was all over the place. For one door opens endless possibilities. But then I tried to taper some of these theories into legit (legitimate) trails.

Hunch #1: She is still alive. Although the legitimacy of this seems an empty trail, I have a strong gut on this BECAUSE of the following (now I have discovered things that area all seemingly circumstantial and some are far-fetched as well) BUT I will post little by little and you be judge to call-out or reconfirm my best and worst work. Feel free to prove me wrong.

Source(s) #1: The INTERNET. Wow. Look at all the websites and information, or actually lack of information about her biography prior to her abduction. You have ONLY the reigning beauty pageant child; America's beauty queen, a child. NO websites mention her personality. No information is exact EVEN FOR her beauty pageantry history. So why is this information misleading? All of THEM only focus on a few key things: Dates she won pageants; Some titles she won; her family; and the 24-hours prior to her abduction and everything thereafter (all the events AFTER her abduction). There is no mention of what kind of child she was - her personality; her friends; her hobbies (other than pageantry); did she frequent Church (with the family); who, outside of her family, was she exposed to or friendly with? Because the child's personality is KEY here. And I'll use a GREAT EXAMPLE: BRITNEY JEAN SPEARS. She is known to be painfully shy when she is off-stage and around others. But she would come alive on the stage.

Now in a digression, I want to touch upon an example which may explain my theory:

OR we can go to Amanda Bynes. Read this excerpt from an article:

“Many a ‘True Hollywood Story’ has been told about show-business kids going bad,” the New York Times wrote then, “but Ms. Bynes seems remarkably self-possessed and far more sedate than the highly caffeinated characters she plays on television.” In the same article, Dan Schneider, who produced nearly everything Bynes had starred in up to that point, reinforced the Times' confident assertion: “I’ve seen kids in her position experiment with drugs and be too promiscuous, but Amanda has avoided all that. My wife, who knows her, says she’s almost like Marcia Brady in that she’s so clean-cut and wholesome.”

From what I remember (My personal recollection of Amanda Bynes from televised interviews), Amanda Bynes was always very calm and mannerly (kind) in interviews. She was graceful. And reserved. As was Britney. Now, when the lights came up or the camera rolled, these two child stars portrayed a much different and more confident air and act for the audience or stage (what-have-you). As they were reserved (why? this for me is confusing because what causes a person to be reserved? Is it introversion? I don't believe so, but again, I can be wrong. But a reserved personality is also a block and a block creates a position that can be misread)---> Let's do this again: As they were reserved personalities, private or SHY people (which shy can be misleading for private when it simply is a barrier or obstacle to overcome), SOMEONE, whether from close-by OR afar could've read the situation and created doubt or an introduced an unkind influence into the young ladies' lives and then corrupted the foundations and protection they had and EXPLOITED them. And framed them - but for what?

In another scenario, what if, there was no outside influence, but there was an attack that led to everything being covered up? Again, you will all call this far-reaching, but those with motive and (sorry Research Methods Professor from Binghamton, I forgot the other attributing _________ word) - those with motive and _____ don't necessarily need the means or even abilities to achieve their desires and desired outcomes. *Note: They are different - desires and desired outcomes.* - *Sometimes they may be the same, but let's not exclude anything.*

BACK FROM THE DIGRESSION:

What does this have to do with JonBenet Ramsey?

Greatness - The greater you are perceived to be, the more people want to topple you over and drag down. Why is "success" a draw? Is it competition? Is it jealousy? Is it envy? I can go on with the list...Why is the motive, but HOW is what drives the point home. You can't establish one without the other.

[delwray-blog]

WAR AGAINST THE HATRED IN THE HUMAN HEART

MY WAR AGAINST THE HATRED IN THE HUMAN HEART

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

What is the Heart according to the Bible?

I’ve lived to be in my seventies now and during all those many years there has been one event, one experience I’ve longed for more than anything else and that is the day my Lord Jesus Christ is magnified and glorified in His written and spoken Word. When He returns and makes an end to sin. I know that will not happen until Jesus Christ comes and makes war on the human hearts of all Christ-rejecters. The Creators recreation of this, His fallen creation that now sets and waste in ruin, where sin has made its entrance with total devastation and the undoing of humankind, this earth, and its heavens. “We wait for new heavens and new earth…” If I may let me use the old expression “I told you so.” “I told you so.” During all those many years one question has nagged my mind like a plague and that question is “why?” I wish I had a penny for every time that word crossed my mind. I would be a multi-millionaire! Why? Of course, God answered that question many years ago as far as I am concerned but as far as its acceptance it has taken many years. And the failure in accepting God’s response to the question why is the root of all the problems that men suffer and have ever had to suffer. Still today as down through history man refuses to accept God’s answer!

One Sunday morning at the age of eighteen I questioned one of the prominent deacons in my home church after a Sunday school class, I had him read Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it.” I told him what I thought it meant and that was exactly what it said! I’ve never forgotten his response, he said, Del, “Oh, it doesn’t mean that the heart is not that bad.” Even then I knew that man had a problem but because of his position in the church, he being my senior and out of respect I turned and walked away confused and honestly upset that he did not believe God’s Word. I knew even then there were fools in the church and he was one of the biggest! Only a fool will not take God at His word! You see his daughter was my high school sweetheart. And as far as I know, Mr. Carruthers never got right because of his wealth and prominence in the First Baptist Church of Newport News, Virginia. He owned the largest real estate and insurance company in the Hampton Roads area and died far too young, it was so sad.

Man will never really know his true condition “why wrong exist” “why there is evil in the world” until he’s ready to accept God’s answer! Men refuse to believe God, Christians don't believe God, and our churches are in a mess today because men don’t believe the Bible! “Why are ye of so little faith?” Jesus asked. We will not accept God’s reply or answer to the reason for evil being in the world. His answer gets right down personal, it comes home, and we are the reason, we are the guilty villains. We deny responsibility! The why and God’s reply! Oh! We claim to believe God and take Him at His Word when in reality we call Him a liar. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of church members deny God’s Word right here! We go along with the Bible corrupters and change God’s Word to suit our own agendas just smiling at God, when God

knows the heart of every man, searches the hearts of men to find out what is in man and still they go on refusing to agree with God, refusing to accept God’s diagnosis when it comes to the condition of man’s heart! THE HATRED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN! And what to do about it! My war against the hatred in man’s heart! Prisons, sanatoriums, hospitals, nursing homes, armed forces, wars, treaties, laws, judges, lawyers, police departments, asylums, doctors, nurses, social entities and much more exist because of the hatred in man’s heart! If we could cure the hatred in man’s heart there would be no need for any of the vocations just listed. The economy would collapse! Do you think men want a cure for man’s hatred? Not on your life or mine, “men love darkness, rather than light because their deeds are evil.” We are the culprits, we are the guilty ones and we reject God’s estimation, condition of our own hearts rather choosing to live in darkness.

One preacher friend asked years ago if I would trust him. And when I told him “no” he hasn’t spoken to me in twenty years. Even after many attempts to rectify my rationale for saying no. He just would not accept my explanation, “man’s heart departs from the Lord.”

“Thus saith the LORD; CURSED be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17: 5 God doesn’t trust you, me or anyone! Get that settled right now!

Some time back I preached a revival in Graham, NC, on a Monday night, I delivered a message on Brokenness and the Human Heart the Sure Way to Revival. After services, several of the men cornered me and ask why I hated human nature so much, not even giving me a chance to reply. So I just said because God hates it! God hates the heart of fallen man! He’s at war with the heart! There can never be any peace between God and the flesh, your fallen heart. You may offer God your heart but He would never accept it! It’s corrupt, vile, wicked and incurable. He does offer to replace it with a new one to all who will believe, yes, He does! So what is meant by the heart in the Bible? I’m glad you ask.

What is the heart, what is meant by the heart in the Bible?

First, I’ll state the obvious: this article is not about the heart as a vital organ, a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. Neither is this article concerned with romantic, philosophical, or literary definitions.

Instead, I’ll focus on what the Bible has to say about the heart. The Bible mentions the human heart almost 300 times. In essence, this is what it says: the heart is that spiritual part of us where our emotions and desires dwell.

Before we look at the human heart, we’ll mention that, since God has emotions and desires, He, too, can be said to have a “heart.” We have a heart because God does. David was a man “after God’s own heart” Acts 13:22. And God blesses His people with leaders who know and follow His heart (1 Samuel 2:35; Jeremiah 3:15).

The human heart, also called the soul in the Bible, in its natural condition, is evil, treacherous and deceitful. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” In other words, the “fall” has affected us at the deepest level; our mind, emotions, and desires have been corrupted by sin—and we are blind to just how all-encompassing that sin is, how comprehensive the problem, the total ruin of man. The deceitful heart! Even in believers “there is none good, no not one” we all still carry around the sinful nature, the old man, that dirty heart that has been corrupted by the fall. The only difference between the natural man and the saved man is the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit who has moved in and desires complete control; He is the Preacher, the Soul-winner the very life essence Himself.

We may not understand our own hearts, but God does. He “knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21; see also 1 Corinthians 14:25). Jesus “knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” John 2:24-25. Based on His knowledge of the heart, God can judge righteously: “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10.

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Jesus pointed out the fallen condition of our hearts, of our natures in Mark 7:21-23: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Our biggest problem is not external but internal; all of us have a heart problem. It’s been said that we all were born wrong!

In order for a person to be saved, then, the heart must be changed. This only happens by the power of God in response to faith. “With the heart, one believes unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10). In His grace, God can create a new heart within us (Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26). He promises to “revive the heart of the contrite ones” Isaiah 57:15.

God’s work of creating a new heart within us involves testing our hearts (Psalm 17:3; Deuteronomy 8:2) and filling our hearts with new ideas, new wisdom, and new desires (Nehemiah 7:5; 1 Kings 10:24; 2 Corinthians 8:16).

The heart is the core of our being, and the Bible sets high importance on keeping our hearts pure: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

In every one of us, there is someone inside of us looking out at the world around them, looking out by way of the eyes of our body, the eyes of the soul.“The eye is the entrance to the soul”, by which that someone sees the world around them and that someone is the real you, the heart. Actually, no one has really seen Del Wray they see the body in which he lives. You’ve never seen me a day in your life! No, you haven’t! I’m inside my body looking out at you. Let me put it this way scripturally:

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”John 1:18

“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”John 14: 7-10

It may seem contradictory but it’s not when understood as a trichotomy.

The soul and the spirit are the two primary immaterial aspects that Scripture ascribes to humanity. It can be confusing to attempt to discern the precise differences between the two. The word “spirit” refers only to the immaterial facet of humanity. Human beings have a spirit, but we are not spirits. However, in Scripture, only believers are said to be spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26), while unbelievers are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). In Paul's writing, the spiritual was pivotal to the life of the believer (1 Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; Ephesians 1:3; 5:19; Colossians 1:9; 3:16). The spirit is the element in humanity which gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. Whenever the word “spirit” is used, it refers to the immaterial part of humanity that “connects” with God, who Himself is Spirit (John 4:24).

The word “soul” can refer to both the immaterial and material aspects of humanity. Unlike human beings having a spirit, human beings are souls. In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life.” However, beyond this essential meaning, the Bible speaks of the soul in many contexts. One of these is humanity’s eagerness to sin (Luke 12:26). Humanity is naturally evil, and our souls are tainted as a result. The life principle of the soul is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18; Jeremiah 15:2). The soul, as with the spirit, is the center of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Job 30:25; Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 13:17). Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether alive or in the afterlife.

The soul and the spirit are connected, but separable (Hebrews 4:12). The soul is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who we are. The spirit is the aspect of humanity that connects with God.

The soul and the heart may be considered as one and the same, vile, corrupt and evil apart from Jesus Christ! The real you!

Visiting a missionary friend of mine several years ago in Virginia, she was in her late nineties, on her death bed in the living room of her sister’s home, after having spent her entire adult life on the mission field in Africa. This dear woman had granted her library to me and we went by to thank her. We, my wife and I talked with her for hours, her mind and speech was clear as any fifty years old. She told us something that I’ll never forget as she described the heart of man. She said, “In every one of us there is a serpent that’s out to kill us and that serpent is the heart.” She knew human nature very well. And the crux of this article is just this:

We do not know our own hearts! Human nature!

We who are believers do not know the depths to which SIN has taken and befallen the Human Race. Our hearts deceive us! We deceive ourselves! The human race is its own worst enemy!

And if I’ve learned anything during the last seventy-two years it’s to hate myself. I don’t even trust myself “The fool trusteth in his own heart.” (Prov. 28:26) “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.” (Psalms 14:1) My own heart has deceived me so gravely and dangerously. Ninety-eight percent 98% of sin in this sin-cursed world and in the individual life comes from the heart of man. Only two percent 2% is caused by the temptation of the world, flesh and the devil. Only a fool will not believe what I’m writing here! Let me give you a perfect example and I do not wish to be callas as I write of the most recent death of Robin Williams the Hollywood comedian, who was found dead two nights ago from hanging as he committed suicide. Robin Williams, they say took his own life because of depression. He had everything a man could want, money, fame, popularity, lived in a mansion with a wonderful family. Still, he committed suicide; his heart got the best of him. Nothing could fill the void in his life even after all he had acquired. Folks, only Jesus Christ can fill the void and empty longing in a man’s heart. Speaking for myself, I’m afraid to act, to speak without the power of God on me and certainly, it has to be within the confines of God’s precious holy Word! Knowing one day I will give an account to Him! I take it very seriously! Let me quote William Tyndall:

"I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus Christ to give a reckoning of our doings that I never altered one syllable of God's Word against my conscience."

Until we who make up His visible, local church come to grips with this matter of the depravity of the human heart we only bring derision and scorn upon ourselves and His church.

“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

Rom. 11: 20-21

America is in the condition that it’s in right now because believers won’t believe God when it comes to the condition of our own hearts. The poison from the serpent, “hatred in the human heart” has affected us all”.

Why does a ten-year-old boy walk into his father’s bedroom with a shotgun and murder his father while he’s sleeping? How can a mother drown her five children in a bathtub blaming it on voices in her head? What possesses a mother to strap her two children in car seats and then push the car into a lake in NC while watching them drawn? It’s happening hundreds of times every day right here in America. I’ll tell you why; “hatred in the human heart.” That’s why! And we Christians think we are better than other folks. God have mercy on us! Every preacher in America, every Christian here in America as well as around the world, you stray far enough away from God the potential is there in you to do the same thing as above. I know an independent Baptist preacher whose son professes to have gotten saved and for years was devoted to his father’s church, married got away from the church and out of jealousy bludgeoned his wife to death with a hammer, she was unrecognizable. Buried his wife a year ago and he now sets in prison in West Virginia, still awaiting trial for murder. America will never be saved from the trash dump of nations until us Christians do business with God over the wickedness in the human heart! God knows my heart, He knows your heart, and He knows I love people! I love you! And that’s the only reason for this document. The greatest need of mankind is victory over the hatred in the human heart!

I’m not trying to be mean spirited or hateful towards anyone, I have no ax to grind, we’ve just gone down the road the wrong way for far too long and I’m afraid there’s no way back except for those individuals who come to Jesus Christ before it is too late! How can I overcome this hatred in my heart? You say there’s no hatred in my heart and after reading this paper. Yes, there is! You wait to someone offends you or crosses you the wrong way. Just wait! Open up your Bible and read what God says we are to do! Read it yourself!

WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)

“For all those things hath mine handmade, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalms 51:17)

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalms 34:18)

Read the entire Chapter of Isaiah 66

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest?

For all those things hath mine handmade, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? Saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? Saith thy God?

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants and his indignation toward his enemies.

For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many!

They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”

Apart from God, the Holy Spirit man is a helpless, hopeless ship, wrecked on the shores of time, with only a moment between him slipping beneath the waves of sin and drowning in the endless seas of eternity having his destiny fixed in the torments of Hell with no relief and no exits! No hope, empty and lost! The only answer being the presence of Jesus Christ in the new heart God promise to those who will believe Him!

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Rom. 5:10 Saved by HIS LIFE!

One is truly saved by God’s grace and sanctified, spiritually grows, thru God’s grace ALONE! Because of the very indwelling presence of God, Jesus Christ in his life! Not my life, not how I live but He lives thru me! I’m not the preacher, He is! I’m not the soul winner, He is! I’m not the Christian present, He is! Preacher’s who stand behind the pulpits and deliver the greatest oratorios ever, even a thousand powerful sermons eloquently. They are committing high treason against the very throne of God if Jesus Christ is not the preacher, the One doing the preaching and the only One who can transcend time and space dealing, doing business with the hearts of His listeners!

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27

Do you have Jesus Christ in you?

If not or you’re not sure here’s how:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…” Acts 16:31

Look it up in your Bible!

“But as many, as receive Him…” John 1:12

Read it from God’s own Word yourself!

“…God be merciful to me a sinner…” Luke 18:13

Read it! Try it! God will work it out in you!

Your heart can deceive you but God’s own Word will never! He cannot lie.

Believe it!

If I can help please feel free to contact me: http://biblerays.com

“In every one of us there is a serpent that’s out to kill us and that serpent is your heart.”

[orendrasingh]

APIn his first public remarks since more than half a dozen women accused him of inappropriately touching them, former Vice President Joe Biden warned a raucous crowd of union workers in Washington, D.C., that their warm reception “may go to my head!”A few moments later, Biden proved himself right.Less than one minute into his speech before the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Biden joked that “I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie,” referring to union president Lonnie R. Stephenson, and making light of charges made by seven women that he touched, hugged, kissed and physically handled them in ways that made them uncomfortable.The audience of union workers, nearly entirely male, reacted to the joke with hoots, cheers, and whistles.“I don’t know, man,” Biden continued over the laughter. “Anyway.”The former vice president then continued with his address, making no further mention of the allegations against him until making another joke, this time after having approached the children of some union workers who had assembled on the podium and wrapping his arm around the neck of the boy closest to him.“By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,” Biden said, to further applause.Speaking to reporters after the speech’s conclusion, Biden said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if other women came forward with allegations that he crossed a line in touching, caressing or kissing them, but suggested that the onus was on the women to make it clear before he touched them.“It is important that I and every one else is aware that any woman or man who feels uncomfortable, should have the right to say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that’ or hopefully get to the point before and say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that, no matter what.’ I really do understand it.”Biden also denied that he had joked about the issue of consensual touching in his speech.“I wasn’t joking,” Biden said. “The president of the union put his arms around me. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how people react.”Asked if he felt that he owed the women an apology, Biden initially dodged the question before allowing that while he was “sorry I didn’t understand, I’m not sorry for any of my intentions. I’m not sorry for anything I’ve done.”Biden’s decision to make mockery of the issue of consensual physical contact on the campaign trail—sparked by former Democratic candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor Lucy Flores, who wrote about an alleged incident in a piece for New York Magazine’s “The Cut”—is a departure from a video he released hastily on Thursday, in which he offered qualified contrition for making any women feel uncomfortable.“In my career I’ve always tried to make a human connection, that’s my responsibility,” Biden said in the video. “Whether they’re men, women, young, old—it’s the way I've always been. It’s the way I try to show I care about them and I’m listening... It’s just who I am.”Flores, of course, was not impressed with Biden’s comments Friday, tweeting: “It’s clear @JoeBiden hasn’t reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable. To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have.” Asked by The Daily Beast if this helped solidify her rationale for coming forward, Flores said: “Yes. Until his type of inappropriate behavior, which to be clear, isn’t friendly hugs, is taken seriously, women will continue to feel disempowered to speak out against inappropriate behavior.”Biden, who is approaching a potential third run for the Democratic presidential nomination, acknowledged in the video that “social norms” have changed, and that he would be more “mindful” in the future. “They’ve shifted, and the boundaries in protecting personal space have been reset. And I get it,” Biden said. “I’ll be much more mindful and will respect it.”Biden has styled himself as a champion for women’s rights, pointing to his authorship of the Violence Against Women Act, but skeptics have pointed to the charges against him, as well as his mishandling of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings, as evidence that he does not adequately understand the post-MeToo political climate.“As human beings, we all make mistakes,” said Sukari Hardnett, who Biden refused to allow to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Anita Hill, who in 1991 accused Thomas of sexual harassment. “But what’s critical is that we learn from those mistakes.”The former vice president’s nascent presidential campaign has struggled to shake the allegations, in part because there is no official campaign organization to do so. On Thursday, The Daily Beast reported that some of Biden’s advisers have become convinced that the stories of women having been made to feel physically uncomfortable around the former vice president as “all coming out of Bernie World,” insinuating that Flores’ allegations were made to support the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).Sanders’ campaign fervently denied that implication.“Neither the Bernie Sanders campaign nor anyone involved in it, planted, planned, persuaded, cajoled or otherwise urged Lucy Flores or anyone else to tell their story. Full stop, period, end of sentence. I don’t want to hear it. We didn’t play a role,” Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir told The Daily Beast.—With reporting by Gideon Resnick.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2IhGcWv

[7newx1]

APIn his first public remarks since more than half a dozen women accused him of inappropriately touching them, former Vice President Joe Biden warned a raucous crowd of union workers in Washington, D.C., that their warm reception “may go to my head!”A few moments later, Biden proved himself right.Less than one minute into his speech before the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Biden joked that “I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie,” referring to union president Lonnie R. Stephenson, and making light of charges made by seven women that he touched, hugged, kissed and physically handled them in ways that made them uncomfortable.The audience of union workers, nearly entirely male, reacted to the joke with hoots, cheers, and whistles.“I don’t know, man,” Biden continued over the laughter. “Anyway.”The former vice president then continued with his address, making no further mention of the allegations against him until making another joke, this time after having approached the children of some union workers who had assembled on the podium and wrapping his arm around the neck of the boy closest to him.“By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,” Biden said, to further applause.Speaking to reporters after the speech’s conclusion, Biden said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if other women came forward with allegations that he crossed a line in touching, caressing or kissing them, but suggested that the onus was on the women to make it clear before he touched them.“It is important that I and every one else is aware that any woman or man who feels uncomfortable, should have the right to say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that’ or hopefully get to the point before and say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that, no matter what.’ I really do understand it.”Biden also denied that he had joked about the issue of consensual touching in his speech.“I wasn’t joking,” Biden said. “The president of the union put his arms around me. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how people react.”Asked if he felt that he owed the women an apology, Biden initially dodged the question before allowing that while he was “sorry I didn’t understand, I’m not sorry for any of my intentions. I’m not sorry for anything I’ve done.”Biden’s decision to make mockery of the issue of consensual physical contact on the campaign trail—sparked by former Democratic candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor Lucy Flores, who wrote about an alleged incident in a piece for New York Magazine’s “The Cut”—is a departure from a video he released hastily on Thursday, in which he offered qualified contrition for making any women feel uncomfortable.“In my career I’ve always tried to make a human connection, that’s my responsibility,” Biden said in the video. “Whether they’re men, women, young, old—it’s the way I've always been. It’s the way I try to show I care about them and I’m listening... It’s just who I am.”Flores, of course, was not impressed with Biden’s comments Friday, tweeting: “It’s clear @JoeBiden hasn’t reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable. To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have.” Asked by The Daily Beast if this helped solidify her rationale for coming forward, Flores said: “Yes. Until his type of inappropriate behavior, which to be clear, isn’t friendly hugs, is taken seriously, women will continue to feel disempowered to speak out against inappropriate behavior.”Biden, who is approaching a potential third run for the Democratic presidential nomination, acknowledged in the video that “social norms” have changed, and that he would be more “mindful” in the future. “They’ve shifted, and the boundaries in protecting personal space have been reset. And I get it,” Biden said. “I’ll be much more mindful and will respect it.”Biden has styled himself as a champion for women’s rights, pointing to his authorship of the Violence Against Women Act, but skeptics have pointed to the charges against him, as well as his mishandling of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings, as evidence that he does not adequately understand the post-MeToo political climate.“As human beings, we all make mistakes,” said Sukari Hardnett, who Biden refused to allow to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Anita Hill, who in 1991 accused Thomas of sexual harassment. “But what’s critical is that we learn from those mistakes.”The former vice president’s nascent presidential campaign has struggled to shake the allegations, in part because there is no official campaign organization to do so. On Thursday, The Daily Beast reported that some of Biden’s advisers have become convinced that the stories of women having been made to feel physically uncomfortable around the former vice president as “all coming out of Bernie World,” insinuating that Flores’ allegations were made to support the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).Sanders’ campaign fervently denied that implication.“Neither the Bernie Sanders campaign nor anyone involved in it, planted, planned, persuaded, cajoled or otherwise urged Lucy Flores or anyone else to tell their story. Full stop, period, end of sentence. I don’t want to hear it. We didn’t play a role,” Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir told The Daily Beast.—With reporting by Gideon Resnick.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

[myinformationforyouworld]

APIn his first public remarks since more than half a dozen women accused him of inappropriately touching them, former Vice President Joe Biden warned a raucous crowd of union workers in Washington, D.C., that their warm reception “may go to my head!”A few moments later, Biden proved himself right.Less than one minute into his speech before the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Biden joked that “I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie,” referring to union president Lonnie R. Stephenson, and making light of charges made by seven women that he touched, hugged, kissed and physically handled them in ways that made them uncomfortable.The audience of union workers, nearly entirely male, reacted to the joke with hoots, cheers, and whistles.“I don’t know, man,” Biden continued over the laughter. “Anyway.”The former vice president then continued with his address, making no further mention of the allegations against him until making another joke, this time after having approached the children of some union workers who had assembled on the podium and wrapping his arm around the neck of the boy closest to him.“By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,” Biden said, to further applause.Speaking to reporters after the speech’s conclusion, Biden said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if other women came forward with allegations that he crossed a line in touching, caressing or kissing them, but suggested that the onus was on the women to make it clear before he touched them.“It is important that I and every one else is aware that any woman or man who feels uncomfortable, should have the right to say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that’ or hopefully get to the point before and say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that, no matter what.’ I really do understand it.”Biden also denied that he had joked about the issue of consensual touching in his speech.“I wasn’t joking,” Biden said. “The president of the union put his arms around me. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how people react.”Asked if he felt that he owed the women an apology, Biden initially dodged the question before allowing that while he was “sorry I didn’t understand, I’m not sorry for any of my intentions. I’m not sorry for anything I’ve done.”Biden’s decision to make mockery of the issue of consensual physical contact on the campaign trail—sparked by former Democratic candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor Lucy Flores, who wrote about an alleged incident in a piece for New York Magazine’s “The Cut”—is a departure from a video he released hastily on Thursday, in which he offered qualified contrition for making any women feel uncomfortable.“In my career I’ve always tried to make a human connection, that’s my responsibility,” Biden said in the video. “Whether they’re men, women, young, old—it’s the way I've always been. It’s the way I try to show I care about them and I’m listening... It’s just who I am.”Flores, of course, was not impressed with Biden’s comments Friday, tweeting: “It’s clear @JoeBiden hasn’t reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable. To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have.” Asked by The Daily Beast if this helped solidify her rationale for coming forward, Flores said: “Yes. Until his type of inappropriate behavior, which to be clear, isn’t friendly hugs, is taken seriously, women will continue to feel disempowered to speak out against inappropriate behavior.”Biden, who is approaching a potential third run for the Democratic presidential nomination, acknowledged in the video that “social norms” have changed, and that he would be more “mindful” in the future. “They’ve shifted, and the boundaries in protecting personal space have been reset. And I get it,” Biden said. “I’ll be much more mindful and will respect it.”Biden has styled himself as a champion for women’s rights, pointing to his authorship of the Violence Against Women Act, but skeptics have pointed to the charges against him, as well as his mishandling of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings, as evidence that he does not adequately understand the post-MeToo political climate.“As human beings, we all make mistakes,” said Sukari Hardnett, who Biden refused to allow to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Anita Hill, who in 1991 accused Thomas of sexual harassment. “But what’s critical is that we learn from those mistakes.”The former vice president’s nascent presidential campaign has struggled to shake the allegations, in part because there is no official campaign organization to do so. On Thursday, The Daily Beast reported that some of Biden’s advisers have become convinced that the stories of women having been made to feel physically uncomfortable around the former vice president as “all coming out of Bernie World,” insinuating that Flores’ allegations were made to support the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).Sanders’ campaign fervently denied that implication.“Neither the Bernie Sanders campaign nor anyone involved in it, planted, planned, persuaded, cajoled or otherwise urged Lucy Flores or anyone else to tell their story. Full stop, period, end of sentence. I don’t want to hear it. We didn’t play a role,” Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir told The Daily Beast.—With reporting by Gideon Resnick.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2IhGcWv

[newsfundastuff]

APIn his first public remarks since more than half a dozen women accused him of inappropriately touching them, former Vice President Joe Biden warned a raucous crowd of union workers in Washington, D.C., that their warm reception “may go to my head!”A few moments later, Biden proved himself right.Less than one minute into his speech before the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Biden joked that “I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie,” referring to union president Lonnie R. Stephenson, and making light of charges made by seven women that he touched, hugged, kissed and physically handled them in ways that made them uncomfortable.The audience of union workers, nearly entirely male, reacted to the joke with hoots, cheers, and whistles.“I don’t know, man,” Biden continued over the laughter. “Anyway.”The former vice president then continued with his address, making no further mention of the allegations against him until making another joke, this time after having approached the children of some union workers who had assembled on the podium and wrapping his arm around the neck of the boy closest to him.“By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,” Biden said, to further applause.Speaking to reporters after the speech’s conclusion, Biden said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if other women came forward with allegations that he crossed a line in touching, caressing or kissing them, but suggested that the onus was on the women to make it clear before he touched them.“It is important that I and every one else is aware that any woman or man who feels uncomfortable, should have the right to say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that’ or hopefully get to the point before and say ‘I’m uncomfortable with that, no matter what.’ I really do understand it.”Biden also denied that he had joked about the issue of consensual touching in his speech.“I wasn’t joking,” Biden said. “The president of the union put his arms around me. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how people react.”Asked if he felt that he owed the women an apology, Biden initially dodged the question before allowing that while he was “sorry I didn’t understand, I’m not sorry for any of my intentions. I’m not sorry for anything I’ve done.”Biden’s decision to make mockery of the issue of consensual physical contact on the campaign trail—sparked by former Democratic candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor Lucy Flores, who wrote about an alleged incident in a piece for New York Magazine’s “The Cut”—is a departure from a video he released hastily on Thursday, in which he offered qualified contrition for making any women feel uncomfortable.“In my career I’ve always tried to make a human connection, that’s my responsibility,” Biden said in the video. “Whether they’re men, women, young, old—it’s the way I've always been. It’s the way I try to show I care about them and I’m listening... It’s just who I am.”Flores, of course, was not impressed with Biden’s comments Friday, tweeting: “It’s clear @JoeBiden hasn’t reflected at all on how his inappropriate and unsolicited touching made women feel uncomfortable. To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have.” Asked by The Daily Beast if this helped solidify her rationale for coming forward, Flores said: “Yes. Until his type of inappropriate behavior, which to be clear, isn’t friendly hugs, is taken seriously, women will continue to feel disempowered to speak out against inappropriate behavior.”Biden, who is approaching a potential third run for the Democratic presidential nomination, acknowledged in the video that “social norms” have changed, and that he would be more “mindful” in the future. “They’ve shifted, and the boundaries in protecting personal space have been reset. And I get it,” Biden said. “I’ll be much more mindful and will respect it.”Biden has styled himself as a champion for women’s rights, pointing to his authorship of the Violence Against Women Act, but skeptics have pointed to the charges against him, as well as his mishandling of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings, as evidence that he does not adequately understand the post-MeToo political climate.“As human beings, we all make mistakes,” said Sukari Hardnett, who Biden refused to allow to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Anita Hill, who in 1991 accused Thomas of sexual harassment. “But what’s critical is that we learn from those mistakes.”The former vice president’s nascent presidential campaign has struggled to shake the allegations, in part because there is no official campaign organization to do so. On Thursday, The Daily Beast reported that some of Biden’s advisers have become convinced that the stories of women having been made to feel physically uncomfortable around the former vice president as “all coming out of Bernie World,” insinuating that Flores’ allegations were made to support the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).Sanders’ campaign fervently denied that implication.“Neither the Bernie Sanders campaign nor anyone involved in it, planted, planned, persuaded, cajoled or otherwise urged Lucy Flores or anyone else to tell their story. Full stop, period, end of sentence. I don’t want to hear it. We didn’t play a role,” Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir told The Daily Beast.—With reporting by Gideon Resnick.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

https://yhoo.it/2IhGcWv

[occupythebronx]

On this date we remember the Tuskegee Syphilis study. This American episode is part of the recurring chapter of racism against blacks in the United States. In 1932, the American government promised 400 men, all residents of Macon County, Alabama, all poor, and all African American, free treatment for Bad Blood, a euphemism for syphilis which was epidemic in the county. Treatment for syphilis was never given to the men and was in fact withheld. The men became unwitting subjects for a government-sanctioned medical experiment, The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male. The Tuskegee Study, which lasted for 4 decades, until 1972, had nothing to do with treatment. No new drugs were tested; neither was any effort made to establish the efficacy of old forms of treatment. It was a non-therapeutic experiment, aimed at compiling data on the effects of the spontaneous evolution of syphilis on black males. What has become clear since Jean Heller broke the story in 1972 was that the Public Health Service (PHS) was interested in using Macon County and its black inhabitants as a laboratory for studying the long-term effects of untreated syphilis, not in treating this deadly disease. The head of the PHS at that time was Talaferro Clark. The Tuskegee Study symbolizes the medical misconduct and blatant disregard for human rights that takes place in the name of science. The study's principal investigators were not mad scientists, they were government physicians, respected men of science, who published reports on the study in the leading medical journals. The subjects of the study bear witness to the premise that the burden of medical experimentation has historically been borne by those least able to protect themselves. The government doctors who participated in the study failed to obtain informed consent from the subjects in a study of disease with a known risk to human life. Instead, the PHS offered the men incentives to participate: free physical examinations, free rides to and from the clinics, hot meals on examination days, free treatment for minor ailments, and a guarantee that a burial stipend would be paid to their survivors. This modest stipend of $50.00 represented the only form of burial insurance that many of the men had. By failing to obtain informed consent and offering incentives for participation, the PHS doctors were performing unethical and immoral experiments on human subjects. From the moment the experiment began, the immorality of the experiment was blatantly apparent. Many critics of the Tuskegee Study draw comparisons to the similar degradation of human indignity in inhumane medical experiments on humans living under the Third Reich. How could such callousness happen outside Nazi Germany? To deny that race played a role in the Tuskegee Study is naive. All 600 subjects (399 experimental and 201 controls) were black; the PHS directors and most of the doctors who studied them were white. In July 1972, Jean Heller broke the story. Under examination by the press, the PHS was not able to provide a formal protocol for the experiment; in fact, one never existed. While it was obvious to the American public as a whole, PHS officials maintained that they did nothing wrong. By the time the story broke, over 100 of the infected men had died, others suffered from serious syphilis-related conditions that may have contributed to their later deaths even though penicillin, an effective treatment against syphilis, was in widespread use by 1946. On July 23, 1973, Fred Gray, a prominent civil rights lawyer, brought a $1.8 billion class action civil suit against many of those institutions and individuals involved in the study. Gray demanded $3 million in damages for each living participant and the heirs of the deceased. The case never came to trial. In December 1974, the government agreed to a $10 million out of court settlement. The living participants each received $37,500 in damages, the heirs of the deceased, $15,000. Gray received nearly $1 million in legal fees. Was The Tuskegee Study government-sanctioned, premeditated genocide? Were the subjects of The Tuskegee Study taken advantage of? Although the survivors and the families of the deceased received compensation, no PHS officer who had been directly involved in the study felt contrition. No apologies were ever tendered; no one ever admitted any wrongdoing. On the contrary, the PHS officers made it clear that they felt they were acting in good conscience. They felt betrayed by the government's failure to defend the study they commissioned. But as one survivor said "I don't know what they used us for. I ain't never understood the study." Arthur Kaplan, PhD, director of the medical ethics program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, described the Tuskegee study as "America's Nuremberg." On the 50th anniversary of the Doctor's Trial in Nuremberg and the 25th anniversary of the end of the Tuskegee study, researchers, the public, and the U.S. government are still coping with the damage caused by the Tuskegee study. To promote healing, President Clinton offered a formal apology on May 16, 1997. The president praised the survivors for their spirit of forgiveness, saying, "Today all we can do is apologize but you have the power. Only you have the power to forgive. Your presence here shows us that you have shown a better path than your government did so long ago. You have not withheld the power to forgive. I hope today and tomorrow every American will remember your lesson and live by it." The former president announced government bioethics fellowships for minority students funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. He also proposed a $200,000 planning grant for a bioethics center at Tuskegee University, which was not affiliated with the study but whose reputation has been tarnished by it. Reference: Tuskegee's Truths: Rethinking the Tuskegee Syphilis Study Studies in Social Medicine by Susan M. Reverby University of North Carolina Press Copyright, July 1, 2000 ISBN: 0807825395 https://ift.tt/2NAhOiW